Nelumbo plant named ‘Taoling Shipian’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nelumbo  plant named ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ is disclosed, characterized by unique soft coral petals with attractive rose-pink flushing. Flowers have a typical lotus shape, with many petals and petaloids, forming a full flower. The new variety is useful as both an ornamental plant and for cut flower production.

Latin name of the genus and species: Nelumbo nucifera.

Variety denomination: ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar, Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’, is the product of a plannedbreeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination ofthe unpatented, seed parent, Nelumbo ‘Dashi’ with the pollen parent theunpatented Nelumbo ‘Muling Oiuse’. The cross pollination was made duringJuly of 2018 in in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China at a researchnursery. The new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ was selected in August of2019 at the same location.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ was firstperformed by root division in in Jiangsu province, China at a researchnursery March of 2020. Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ has since producedmultiple generations and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ as a newand distinct Nelumbo cultivar:

-   -   1. Typical lotus shaped flower, with many petals and petaloids,        forming a full flower.    -   2. Unique soft coral petals with attractive rose-pink flushing.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ are similar to plants ofthe seed parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plantsof the new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ produces more petals per flower        than the seed parent.    -   2. Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ produces petals with a broader        diameter than petals of the seed parent.    -   3. Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ produces flowers colored soft coral        with rose-pink margins; the seed parent produces greyed-pink        flowers with coral margins.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ are similar to the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newcultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ produces flowers colored soft coral        with rose-pink margins; the pollen parent produces yellow        flowers.    -   2. Flowering stems of Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ are shorter than        flowering stems of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new cultivar ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Nelumbo ‘Taopu Jingxiu’. Plants of the new cultivar‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Flower color of Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ is deeper than        flower color of ‘Taopu Jingxiu’.    -   2. Flower form of Nelumbo ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ is typical        lotus-shaped, while flower form of ‘Taopu Jingxiu’ is a        chrysanthemum shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate in full color typical plants of‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ grown outdoors, in the ground in Jingsu Province,China. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andequipment. While the colors in these photographs may display variancesof color as compared to the living cultivar, due to LRV (lightreflectance value), they are as accurate as possible using conventionalphotographic techniques. Colors in the photographs may appear to differslightly from the color values cited in the botanical description, whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Nelumbo plant. Temperaturesranged from approximately 26° C. to 28° C. night and about 32° C. to 35°C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments orchemical treatments were given to the plants.

FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical of plants of Nelumbo ‘TAOLINGSHIPIAN’ beginning to flower at approximately 4 months.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical flower bud of Nelumbo‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color a typical opening flower of Nelumbo‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’.

FIG. 4 illustrates in full color typical fully open flower of Nelumbo‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ plants grown in an outdoorpond in Jiangsu Province, China. Average day temperature range wasaround 32° C. to 35° C.; average night temperature ranged around 26° C.to 28° C. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were fullsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types. Measurements were taken during June to August of2020.

-   Botanical classification: Nelumbo nucifera ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Root divisions.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 4 months.-   Container size of the plant described: In a pond of approximately 4    meters wide and 90 cm deep.-   Growth habit: Flowering pond perennial plant.-   Height: Average range 29 to 62 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 to 74 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Root description: Cylindrical rhizomes. New growth near RHS White    155D, mature stems near Grey-Brown N199D.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single, alternate.        -   Average length.—Average 25 to 35 cm.        -   Average width.—22 to 28 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded with dimple.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire, undulate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile sheath.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149B.            Young foliage, under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 149B.            Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 136C. Mature            foliage, under side: Near RHS Green 136C. Fall foliage upper            side: Near RHS Yellow 13A. Fall foliage, under side: Near            RHS Yellow 13A.        -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near            Green 136B. Venation color under side: Near Green 136B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Average range 26 cm to 59 cm.        -   Average diameter.—Average range 4 mm to 7 mm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Near Green 142A. Lower surface: Near            Green 142A.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: June through August.-   Flower type and habit: Single occurring, double rotate flowers.    Upright. Lotus-shaped with center semi-filled with petaloids.-   Flowers per plant: 8 to 10 flowers and buds per plant. 14 to 20    stems per square meter produced per year.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flower about 4 days.    Self-cleaning.    -   -   Flower size.—Height: Approximately 8 cm to 10 cm. Width:            Approximately 11 cm to 15 cm.-   Bud: (Near opening):    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—Approximately 12 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 4 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 149A with tip Red 55B.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—90 to 105.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to obovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Petal length.—5.0 cm to 9.8 cm.        -   Petal width.—1.1 cm to 4.5 cm.        -   Color.—Opening: Petal color, upper surface: Yellow-Orange            20D. Red-Purple 60C apical margin. Venation near Red-Purple            60D. Petal color, upper surface: Yellow-Orange 20D.            Red-Purple 60C apical flush. Venation near Red-Purple 60D.            Fully Open: Petal color, upper surface: Yellow 8D with            center near Yellow 4B. Red-Purple 60C apical section.            Venation near Red-Purple 60C. Petal color, under surface:            Yellow 2D, veins Red-Purple 69D.        -   Color changes when aging.—Dried flowers Near RHS            Greyed-Orange 161C all surface.-   Petaloids:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate within interior of flower.        -   Quantity.—10 to 13.        -   Length.—5.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.1 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate to lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near Yellow 2D flushed            Red 48A. Under surface: Near Yellow 2D flushed Red 53D.            Fully opened: Upper surface: Near Yellow 2D. Under surface:            Near Yellow 2D flushed Red-Purple 60D.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—4.        -   Length.—4.6 cm.        -   Width.—2.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near Yellow-Green 144B. Under Surface:            Near Yellow-Green 144B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 60 to 80 cm.        -   Width.—Average 1.0 cm.        -   Strength.—Weak.        -   Texture.—Leathery.-   Fragrance: Moderate.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: (Androecium).    -   -   Number.—Average 102 to 112.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 8 to 10 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow 2D.        -   Anther length.—9 mm to 12 mm.        -   Anther width.—15 mm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 4B.        -   Anther shape.—Elliptic.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 4B.        -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.-   Pistil: (Gynoecium).    -   -   Number.—Average range 5 to 15.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Yellow 13A. Ovary Color:            Near RHS Yellow 11D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Not observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −10° C. to at least 40° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases Nelumbo observed. Neither resistance nor    susceptibility to normal pests of Nelumbo observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nelumbo plantnamed ‘TAOLING SHIPIAN’ as herein illustrated and described.